Free tools for pet parents
Quick, practical tools to help you make safer choices for your dog or cat — no sign-up needed.
🌿 Herb Safety Checker
Wondering whether a herb or plant is safe for your pet? Select it below for an instant answer.
Chamomile
🐶 Dogs — SAFE: Generally safe for dogs in small amounts (e.g. weak tea).
🐱 Cats — CAUTION: Usually tolerated in tiny amounts, but cats are sensitive — avoid concentrated oils and check with your vet.
Ginger
🐶 Dogs — SAFE: Generally safe for dogs; traditionally used for nausea and digestion.
🐱 Cats — SAFE: Generally safe for cats in small amounts.
Turmeric
🐶 Dogs — SAFE: Generally safe for dogs; ask your vet about dose, especially around surgery or with medication.
🐱 Cats — CAUTION: Small culinary amounts are usually fine, but cats are sensitive — ask your vet first.
Milk Thistle
🐶 Dogs — SAFE: Widely used to support liver health in dogs.
🐱 Cats — SAFE: Commonly used for liver support in cats under vet guidance.
Dandelion Root
🐶 Dogs — SAFE: A classic gentle digestive herb for dogs.
🐱 Cats — SAFE: Generally safe for cats; avoid with gallbladder or bile-duct issues.
Valerian Root
🐶 Dogs — SAFE: Traditionally used for calming anxious dogs.
🐱 Cats — CAUTION: Has a stimulating effect on many cats — use only with vet guidance.
Echinacea
🐶 Dogs — SAFE: Generally safe for short-term immune support in dogs.
🐱 Cats — SAFE: Generally safe for short-term use in cats.
Peppermint (leaf)
🐶 Dogs — CAUTION: Small amounts usually fine, but large quantities can upset the stomach.
🐱 Cats — CAUTION: Use sparingly; never use concentrated peppermint oil on or near cats.
Lavender
🐶 Dogs — CAUTION: The plant in small amounts is usually tolerated, but essential oil can irritate skin.
🐱 Cats — UNSAFE: Lavender essential oil is toxic to cats; the plant itself can also cause issues if chewed.
Tea Tree Oil
🐶 Dogs — UNSAFE: Toxic to dogs — can cause weakness, tremors and collapse.
🐱 Cats — UNSAFE: Highly toxic to cats, even in small amounts. Never use.
Pennyroyal
🐶 Dogs — UNSAFE: Toxic — can cause liver failure in dogs.
🐱 Cats — UNSAFE: Toxic to cats. Never use.
Garlic
🐶 Dogs — UNSAFE: Can damage red blood cells in quantity — avoid as a supplement.
🐱 Cats — UNSAFE: Toxic to cats even in small amounts.
Onion & Chives
🐶 Dogs — UNSAFE: Toxic to dogs — damages red blood cells.
🐱 Cats — UNSAFE: Toxic to cats — damages red blood cells.
Aloe Vera
🐶 Dogs — CAUTION: The latex (yellow sap) causes vomiting and diarrhoea; pure gel is usually fine on skin.
🐱 Cats — UNSAFE: Toxic to cats if ingested — causes vomiting and lethargy.
Eucalyptus Oil
🐶 Dogs — UNSAFE: Eucalyptus oil is toxic to dogs if ingested or applied concentrated.
🐱 Cats — UNSAFE: Toxic to cats. Never diffuse around them in enclosed spaces.
Nutmeg
🐶 Dogs — UNSAFE: Toxic beyond tiny culinary amounts — can cause disorientation and rapid heart rate.
🐱 Cats — UNSAFE: Unsafe for cats beyond trace culinary amounts.
This checker is for general information only and is not veterinary advice. Herbs can interact with medications and health conditions — always check with your vet before giving any herb to your pet. Cats are far more sensitive than dogs.
Safety guides worth bookmarking
- Pet Safety & Toxicology — plants, foods and products that are dangerous for pets
- Essential Oils & Aromatherapy — which oils are never safe around cats and dogs
- Herb Profiles — in-depth guides to individual herbs
- Natural Remedies — our full library of remedy guides
More tools are on the way — including a supplement finder and a seasonal allergy calendar. Have an idea for a tool you’d find useful? Tell me here.